Microchip unveils PIC MCUs for single-phase, multi-function smart-metering and energy-monitoring apps

Embedded Systems Conference Boston 2010, CHANDLER, USA: Microchip Technology Inc. has announced the 8-bit PIC18F87J72 microcontroller (MCU) family for single-phase, multi-function smart-metering and energy-monitoring applications.

Featuring a dual-channel, high-performance 16-/24-bit Analog Front End (AFE), the new MCUs provide an accurate, reliable, easy-to-use and cost-effective solution for developing meters that exceed International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) class 0.5 performance.

The family includes 64 or 128 KB Flash program memory and 4 KB RAM, to enable time-of-use and multi-tariff functions; as well as a high level of peripheral integration, including an LCD driver, hardware Real-Time Clock/Calendar (RTCC) and a Charge-Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) that enables a capacitive-touch user interface.

Energy-calculation firmware, a development board and a reference design are available, providing a complete solution that lowers costs and shortens time to market for a variety of smart-metering and energy-monitoring applications.

“The PIC18F87J72 MCU family addresses market demands for an integrated smart energy metering and power-monitoring MCU,” said Mitchel Obolsky, vice president of Microchip’s Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division.

“These new MCUs expand Microchip’s existing energy-metering and power-monitoring portfolio. Customers now have the option of selecting the PIC18F87J72 MCU with AFE for small size, or a separate Microchip MCP390X AFE with a standard PIC MCU for maximum flexibility.”

Development support
The PIC18F87J72 Single-Phase Energy-Meter Reference Design (part #ARD00280) can be obtained through Microchip sales representatives for evaluation, today. Featuring a shunt-based single-phase meter with energy-calculation firmware and GUI-assisted software calibration, the reference design enables calculation of active/reactive energy, forward/reverse energy, active/reactive/apparent power and RMS current/Voltage.

Customers can reuse or customize the free firmware for their needs, which further shortens time to market and enables them to differentiate their products in the marketplace.

Additionally, the PIC18F87J72-based Energy Monitoring PICtail Daughter Board (part #ARD00330) can be plugged into Microchip’s Explorer 16 Development Board (part #DM240001) for easy development of energy-measurement and -monitoring devices. The PICtail board is expected to be available in November 2010.